A-League week 10

Michael Lynch

When Victory got its season back on track in round three it was high-flying Adelaide whom it beat, coming from behind to snatch a 2-1 win. While Victory was unlucky to lose the following week to the Jets, it has been in a rich vein of form since then having taken 13 points from a possible 15. The Reds, however, have kept on keeping on and have been top of the table or thereabouts all season. Until that win at Etihad, Victory hadn't beaten Adelaide since October 2010. The Reds might get revenge here.

HEART V GLORYAAMI Park, Saturday, 5.30pm

Heart is bouncing along near the foot of the table but is only two points behind Glory, who plays in Melbourne for the second time in eight days (it lost 1-0 to Victory last week at this ground). Heart would happily settle for the same outcome, and if it can replicate its scoring exploits of the past two home games, when it put four past Brisbane and three past Newcastle, it would be a big chance. Glory is tough and organised, and might be good enough to get a point here.

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JETS V MARINERSHunter Stadium, Saturday, 7.45pm

Things are always tense and tight in the F3 derby as the scorecard shows: in 27 meetings the score stands at nine apiece, with nine games drawn, a perfect illustration of the equilibrium at work in regional NSW soccer. Mariners are top at moment, the Jets in the chasing pack, but that won't matter much here. Jets are without skipper Jobe Wheelhouse and a host of others, while Mariners are missing Mathew Ryan and Tom Rogic, who are on Socceroo duty. Mariners might be a shade too strong this time.

PHOENIX V SYDNEY FCWestpac Stadium, Sunday, 2.30pm

Frank Farina took a watching brief for the first game of his tenure with the Sky Blues, a rather desperate 0-0 draw with Melbourne Heart last weekend. He has now very quickly stamped his authority on the club, firing football operations manager Gary Cole on Monday and doubling the training sessions with immediate effect. Expect a tough, hard, committed Sydney, but without Alessandro Del Piero (who is expected to miss this match with injury) will Sydney have enough creativity to break open a well-drilled Wellington? Probably not. Phoenix to win.

WANDERERS V ROARParramatta Stadium, Sunday, 5pm

Roar will always be a trivia question for Wanderers fans, being the first club the new team beat – a win on the road against the reigning premiers no less, something to remember with pride. Things haven't gone swimmingly for either club since, as they both find themselves outside the top six, just ahead of Melbourne Heart. Roar got a bonus with the red card handed out to Thomas Broich against the Jets rescinded by FFA officials this week and his presence might be enough to galvanise Brisbane here. Roar to take the points.